Stargate SG-1: No Season 11 But Its Not the End!

by Trevor Kimball, October 12, 2006

Back in August, the Sci Fi Channel upset fans of Stargate SG-1 by revealing that the venerable science fiction series would not be renewed for an eleventh season. The series, which once starred MacGiver’s Richard Dean Anderson, has been airing on the Sci Fi Channel for the past five seasons (following five seasons on Showtime). A campaign to save SG-1 began almost immediately and the studio publicly announced its support for the series. Well, all those efforts have paid off.

The ratings for Stargate SG-1 admittedly have been slipping. The show has run for 10 seasons so it was really no big surprise that the Sci Fi Channel pulled the plug. Science fiction shows are expensive to produce — especially shows that have been around for 10 years. Cast and staff members receive raises over the years and that all adds up to big production costs. In truth, Stargate SG-1 was not expected to continue this long. When the spin-off series Stargate Atlantis was created three years ago, it was expected that it would be replacing SG-1. But Stargate SG-1was rejuvenated and did so well that it was decided to air both series concurrently.

The Sci Fi Channel made the announcement not to renew the series on August 26, 2006. But Sci Fi does not own the SG-1show. They purchase the rights to air it in the United States from MGM. So, could the show simply be picked up by another cable station or network? Not a chance. Though Sci Fi doesn’t want to buy any new episodes themselves, they don’t want anyone else airing them either.

Mark Stern, Sci Fi Channel’s Executive Vice President of Original Programming, reportedly told Multichannel, “There is not going to be (a season 11 of Stargate SG-1) on U.S. television. Our contract with MGM prohibits it. It’s done a great job, rejuvenated with the additions of Ben (Browder), Claudia (Black) and Beau (Bridges), but we think we’ve come to the end of those stories. We really felt like it was the right time to segue out, for the show not to overstay its welcome.” (Sci Fi will finish airing season 10 in Spring 2007 and will continue to air the 200+ episodes of SG-1 in reruns for the foreseeable future.)

How about movies or DVDs or even downloadable episodes via iTunes? Possibly. MGM studio spokesman Jeff Pryor said “From MGM’s perspective, we don’t view SG-1 as a television series, we view it as a franchise, and one with a lot of vibrant life. The fan base is fiercely loyal.”

How refreshing to see a studio stand so solidly behind a show though it’s been cancelled. The studio even went so far as to create a special section of their StargateSG1.com devoted to encouraging fans to write, record and campaign to save the show. Fans of the show started their own campaign (SaveStargateSG1.com), wrote letters and bought full-page ads in the Hollywood trade paper Variety.

Well, the diligence has paid off.

MGM has now given the go-ahead for the production of two direct-to-DVD Stargate SG-1 movies. Executive producer Brad Wright told TV Guide that the first film will be “the climax of the Ori story line.” The DVD movie will tie up the loose ends from season 10 (expected to conclude its initial U.S. television run in June 2007) and will be written and directed by current SG-1 executive producer and show-runner Robert C. Cooper. Wright himself plans to create the second film script and said it will involve time travel.

In addition, Wright said, “They’re not big-budget (movies) by any definition, but for us it’s pretty good. As we’ve proven over the years, just give us little more money and we can make pretty good television, or DVDs. There’s a sense of an era for us ending, but at the same time, we’re all positive because of the prospect of continuing forward with movies and the introduction next year of Stargate Worlds, a massive multiplayer online game.”

The Stargate SG-1 castmembers haven’t signed on for the movies as yet, but are said to be “very eager” to be part of the new SG-1 stories. The studio is targeting a Fall 2007 release for both projects — just a few months after the airing of Stargate SG-1 season 10. It’s possible that the movies could be aired on TV (perhaps the Sci Fi Channel) prior to their DVD release.

The producers have expressed interest in starting a third series based on the Stargate world. It’s possible that the second DVD movie might help to set that up.

Stargate Atlantis, meanwhile, has been renewed for a fourth season, and the Sci Fi Channel hopes that the spin-off series can stand alone.

So, the future looks very good for the Stargate world. Could it be that Sci Fi’s cancellation made much of this possible? Hard to say but perhaps there’s truth in the old saying, “What does not kill us, makes us stronger…”

I LOVE stargate SG-1, and i think that sci-fi’s decison to cancel stargate SG-1 is a foolish decison. Great there will be a “direct to DVD” release. But you know what I don’t give a D*** about dvds! All I ask is that sci-fi renews season 11 of stargate SG-1, its last season. I mean c’mon 1 season? That’s about 20 episodes! Which is about 20 hours of air-time. Is it really that big of a deal. Fans are thirsty for last season of stargate To tie up the loose ends and to say farewell. Then they can continue there… Read more »

iv only watched stargate for about four years and i think the show is great i live in the uk and i know about 30 people that watch just in our town. I always look forward to every episode and i will be sorry to see it end and i think its the biggest mistake in sci-fi history. The movies will be good but they wont be as great as the series, they just wont be as exciting and they wont be regularly made unlike the series!!

You know Sci-fi are increasingly becoming he funeral parlour of all the greatest sci fi i have ever been a fan of i mean can anyone remember the premeture end of Farscape? now for a show as amazing as that does anyone here remember how sci fi left it hanging? do you remember dargo wailing for his pals just before the spisode ended and now as sg1 has rejuved and had life blown back into it they think fobbing us off with a couple of straight to DVD movies is enough? COME ON GIVE US A BREAK WHERE ARE THE… Read more »

I agree, Scifi is making a big mistake. ratings will fall further and Scifi will realise what a mistake they’ve made. But as the “movie’s” have been confirmed and there is talk of a cinematic sequal to the original film I don’t think stargate will die out. I think the DVD releases will be awsum and just end the series perfectly. But for me all this business with the ori will make humans the strongest (coz’ we all know SG-1’s gonna win)and the series will have no-where else to go. Thats looking on the inevitable truth that the series has… Read more »

i cant believe this, just like all other shows the actors get greedy and they dont have enough money for production. i love stargate and looked foward to that show every friday night b4 going out drinking and clubbing. those execs are idiots.

This is rediculous, SG1 is a brilliant show and should keep being made, the only reason there losing viewers is cause atleast 30% of the people who watch the show download it instead watching it on tv, maybe they should think about internet tv and the problem will be solved.

Don’t take Stargate off the air. It would be a huge mistake. Re think this. Where are you taking your poles from that would lead you to believe it has slipped in ratings. you will lose a lot of viewers if you do this.

The Sci-Fi Channel has made some major blunders over the years. This is but another one. Sci-Fi once had a great thing going on Friday nights with Sci-Fi Friday. Now, in addition to canceling Stargate SG-1, they’re moving Battlestar Galactica to Sundays at 10:00. I seriously don’t think that Stargate Atlantis has the same charm that SG-1 did. It’s so much darker than its predecessor (What is it with darkness in science fiction these days?). Sci-Fi Friday was once a great way to wind down the week… I looked forward to it each week. Now we get wrestling on Sci-Fi… Read more »